Category: Prayer

Happy Monday!

Where have I been?? It’s been a busy past few months and I’m sad to say I haven’t had time to keep up with the blog. I finally have a schedule where I have the time. I’ve gone through two job changes and I am very happy now. I have more time to blog and share what is going on in our life.

Now for the big news… it’s not a job change. 😉

We are expecting a baby in August!

Nathan and I couldn’t be more thrilled… and nervous of course. Nathan has been so supportive and understanding of my nerves. Pregnancy after a miscarriage brings on many fears. I’m constantly questioning anything I eat or drink, I was frightened to go to the bathroom for several weeks, not wanting to lift a thing over 10 pounds, etc.

I’ve been doing a Bible study that has given me comfort and taken away these fears. I have learned that worry and pain aren’t natural to pregnancy. Jesus wants us to enjoy pregnancy and not believe the lies from the devil.

If you have worries from pregnancy or anything else, look into God’s word and find the comfort you need. It is good to research and learn about what is going on in your body but balance those worldly words with the Word of God.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

“The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The Lord is near to all who call on him. To all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:17-18

Here’s a little progress from my belly:

I love these pictures because I so wanted a little change each week but I think I’m finally seeing a little bit. =)

I’m glad I could share the news! Be on the look out for some posts in the near future! Have a wonderful week!

Hello all!

I hope you all have had a great start to June! It has been a busy time for my family the past couple weeks, but all great things for sure! Nathan and I have started our own DJ business called Mister and Mrs. DJ. Find us on FB, Twitter, and Insta (all @misterandmrsdj). It is going to be a thrilling side business to do with my wonderful hubby. =)

I am sorry to say that I am going to make you all wait ONE more day to see the After of my mom’s closets. Before I post tomorrow, review the Before.

As for today I want to share 28 BRILLIANT Travel Hacks. A lot of people will probably be traveling this summer and these will sure help you as you prepare for your trip.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE these hacks. Who else is thankful for awesome hacks that people post online? They have solved so many problems!

I want to end today with a Bible verse. A special friend over at Beneath My Heart wrote a sweet post about her adoption that will be taking place very soon! They are selling precious t-shirts to help go towards their adoption. It reminded me of the HOPE I have for having a baby some day.

Romans 15:13 – “I pray that the God who gives HOPE will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him. Then your HOPE will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

May 27th marked a year for my miscarriage. I had mixed emotions on posting that day. It technically lasted for several days, so I don’t associate it with that one day. This past year has been full of changes and growth. Having HOPE can help you through a difficult time. Don’t hesitate in emailing me if you want to talk! It helps to share your story and talk to someone that has been in similar shoes.

Thank you for reading! Remember to sign up for email updates and follow me on social media!

Today I am sharing 5 Ways to Prepare for a Natural Miscarriage. You might have been told by your midwife or doctor that you are having a miscarriage. Maybe it is early in your pregnancy or maybe they don’t feel like a D&C is necessary, so instead, it has been decided to complete it naturally. In our case, we hardly knew anything about pregnancy and to find out we were having a miscarriage, we were completely lost. After our first ER visit, I remember going home and not knowing anything about the next couple days.

Intense pain, heavy bleeding, sadness, worry, etc. I didn’t know these things would be so extreme. I remember having the feeling that everything that was happening was not real. It didn’t feel like this nightmare was happening to us. I am sharing some tips that will help you as you go through a natural miscarriage.

5 Ways to Prepare for a Natural Miscarriage:

Be in a comfortable environment. Dress comfortably, have a comfortable recliner, bed, or couch, have a stress-free house. You should have someone watch over you and help you. Accept the help! Receive the blessing and relax as much as possible. Thankfully my husband was able to take time off to stay with me for a few days.

Have a collection of overnight pads (do not use tampons). Bleeding can be very heavy at times. You will notice it is not just blood, it is mainly tissue. It can look very alarming but know that it is normal. Keep in contact with your midwife or doctor about the amount of times you are changing your pads. They will want to know in case you need to come in to have tests done.

Definitely have pain pills on hand when the pain gets intolerable. Take it before the pain gets extreme so you can stay on top of it. Advil is strong enough unless your doctor/midwife prescribes others. I never expected the type of pain I had. My contraction-type pains were off and on for a week. I also used a heating pad to control mild pain. I also suggest eating healthy foods and drinking natural beverages. Stay away from fried and greasy food, soda, alcohol, etc.

Light exercise will help with the pain. I remember pacing around my parents house at full speed and it helped control some of the terrible feelings. If you can manage, try walking around and walk off some of the pain. It can be hard to have that motivation. Have someone there to hold your hand and encourage you.

Pray, pray, and pray. Having Jesus at the center of every situation will help you get through any situation. I also believe in reading scripture to find comfort. Here are some comforting Bible verses:

Jeremiah 1:5: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb, before you were born I set you apart.”

Ecclesiastes 11:5: “Just as you do not know how the life breath enters the human frame in the mother’s womb, so you do not know the work of God who is working in everything.”

Isaiah 49:15: “Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.”

Matthew 5:4: “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.”

Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Romans 8:18: “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

Romans 8:28: “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to His purpose.”

If you are going through a miscarriage or are having a hard time from one in the past, please email me and we can chat. I have really been blessed by all the emails I have received. Feel free to reach out to me again! Have a blessed week and remember that you are loved!

Happy Valentine’s Eve! We all love a Pinterest successes right? Well I have a very easy Valentine’s treat that you have got to try! And guess what? You can customize this treat for any holiday! You could change the sprinkles or shapes! So what am I making for Valentine’s treats?

Chocolate Dipped Krispie Treats

Here is a link to the recipe: Chocolate Dipped Krispie Treats. This cute recipe is from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe. It’s a super cute blog sharing recipes that you will love! Who loves finding new blogs on Pinterest? It is such a great place to find new blogs, recipes, diy ideas, clothes, deals, etc. Don’t forget to check out my Pinterest page, I am constantly pinning awesome things. Follow me on Pinterest

So here are my Chocolate Dipped Krispie Treats:

I chose to drizzle chocolate on some because it used less chocolate and I prefer to use the expensive ones (Ghirardelli.. you’ve got to for Valentine’s Day, right??).

This is my kind of recipe. Easy. Affordable. Quick. YUMMY. and ADORABLE.

For Christmas, use a Christmas tree cookie cutter and red/green sprinkles. For Easter, use a Cross cookie cutter and purple/gold sprinkles. For Halloween, use a pumpkin cookie cutter and orange sprinkles. The options are endless! I am loving this idea!

I hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day. Thank you for reading and following my blog so far! I apologize I have been distant this week. It has been super crazy in my house. Thankfully my husband has healed from the flu and I have not caught it (still praying). Working full-time and taking care of my husband and myself has been an even fuller-time adventure this week. But I’m looking forward to next week’s blog posts! I hope you are too!

Don’t forget to subscribe to email updates! You will never miss a post! =)

What kind of Valentine’s treats are you cooking up? Share in a comment!

Today I am sharing 7 Tips for Your Marriage After A Miscarriage. This post came to me after my husband and I visited a marriage event this past weekend. It was called Love Worth Fighting For, featuring Kirk Cameron and Warren Barfield. It truly encouraged our marriage. We have had a year of giant ups and downs but have remained strong together. We completely owe that to our father, Jesus Christ. Through a miscarriage, new job, stress over money, surgeries, etc., I feel our marriage growing stronger.

We decided to make this event our Valentine’s presents to each other. We also purchased these awesome t-shirts (with matching wristbands ;)). We’ve decided to wear them a lot this February. You can find them here: The Love Shirts

Nathan is the love of my life and I am so blessed to be able to call him my husband! Our miscarriage was a huge learning experience for us. Nathan had never seen me in that much agony and I know I scared him at times but I am so thankful he stayed by my side the whole time.

I am going to share some tips that I believe will keep your relationship strong if you are going through a miscarriage or any type of loss. The type of pain you experience through something like a miscarriage can be hard on a marriage. The most important thing I learned from Love Worth Fighting For is to fight for your marriage! Don’t ever give up on each other.

7 Tips for Your Marriage After a Miscarriage:

Give each other time to grieve. Some people take longer to grieve than others. Don’t rush each other and don’t feel bad for not being at the same point. It’s okay to be at different stages in grief, as the female or male. Take as much time as you need. Accept help from others and be there for each other when sadness really takes over.

Go away together. After I was cleared by the doctor, Nathan and I took a small trip to Gatlinburg, TN (one of our favorite relaxing spots). The car ride was great for talking or just listening to music. We didn’t have to cook or clean. We had no worries. Make this trip memorable by doing something in memory of the one you lost. Either by some type of memorial item or doing something that you will never forget (ride in a helicopter, go on a trolley ride, bungee jump, etc.). Be with each other!

Grieve together and share your feelings when you are ready. Cry and question things together. Don’t force each other to talk when the other one isn’t ready. Some people take longer to share their feelings than others.

Remember milestone days, some have harder times during these days than others. When your due date comes around, Christmas, your birthdays, or any special time for you, it can be very hard coping with not having a baby in your hands. Some have a harder time at this than others. Understand your spouse and be there for them. Don’t push them, but instead be understanding

Be patient. Don’t lash out at each other. Some people have anger. I definitely had anger at times but Nathan was always there to remind me that God watches over us.

Seek outside help. Talk to a pastor, counselor, therapist, etc. They are there to help people talk through difficult times. If you don’t know what to talk about or how to bring things up, they will help you! I highly encourage this.

Pray together. Lastly, but most importantly, keep God at the center of your relationship during the good and bad times. Remember that God holds your future and he is going to take care of you.

Have you gone through a hard time with your spouse following a miscarriage or another difficult loss? Try these tips and I pray that God has his hand on your marriage and future. Fight for your marriage and don’t give up on each other!

Happy Snow Day! Well, at least it is for a lot of Kentucky. It’s always nice when Nathan and I both have a day off! The majority of my family has a snow day as well, except for my daddy’o. He’s such a hard worker and essential for the school he works at. Say a prayer today to all those that have to be on the road. So many businesses don’t close that rely on their employees.

Here are some pictures of today’s winter storm (which is still going on):

Above our front door

My spike plant trying to hang in there

Nathan shoveling

It’s a beautiful, light snow, so sadly we can’t throw snowballs but it has been relaxing inside. It’s also been a great day for blog planning. With all this snow I wanted to share a great bargain that will keep your entry way nice a clean!

When there is a lot of snow, mud, or rain, does your entry way look like a mess? It’s almost impossible to keep it neat and clean when people are dragging in gear and dirty shoes. We decided to take a plunge and make snow angels, and well our shoes and clothes were soaked.

So here is our entry way with all this snow:

Mainstays Door Mat from Wal-Mart

I love this rug! We purchased it at Wal-Mart a few years ago and it is great for keeping your entryway clean. It is also big enough to keep shoes on and let dry out. Today we have gloves and hats drying out as well. It is also a great place our sweet pups can sit while we dry their paws off. We keep our coats and extra layers that are soaked hanging up behind the door. If there is any dripping, it makes it to the rug.

For only $10.56, you get a stylish rug that protects your entryway and keeps it neat. It cleans your shoes and traps water. It’s also made in the USA! Here is a link: Entryway Rug. I highly recommend it!

We are enjoying the snow but our pups, don’t enjoy getting out in it. But they sure look cute. =)

Violet our oldest poodle

Have a blessed weekend and stay safe if you find yourself in a winter storm!

When you find out you’re pregnant, many people feel like they need to hesitate in doing certain things or holding back telling people. You might have fear over the worst possible outcome. I am here to tell you 5 hesitations not to have if you are pregnant. I have had a miscarriage and I don’t regret the ways we celebrated and prepared. It is okay to celebrate and be happy early on.

Don’t hesitate in telling your close family and friends that you are pregnant. I would wait sometime to post on social media but when it comes to those close to you, why wait? When something horrible happens in your life, don’t you want them there? I took a pregnancy test by myself and when I found out, I was very shocked and could not hold it in. I surprised Nathan that same evening and loved his sweet reaction when he was scratching his head while looking at that test. We told our parents probably a week later, then our siblings and some close friends shortly after. It is still easy to feel alone during a miscarriage but the more people you have for support, the better.

Don’t hesitate in buying and preparing for maternity/baby things. Before we even found out I was pregnant, I purchased an awesome like-new changing table from Goodwill for $15. I love it. It hurt for a while to see it after the miscarriage, but honestly I know it is just an item and it can be for the future. It’s also available for our sweet niece and friend’s baby. I also purchased and received a lot of maternity clothing. Those aren’t the only things we purchased and we don’t regret any of them. It’s probably obvious I am a planner. 😉

Our Changing Table Goodwill Find

Don’t hesitate in talking about baby names or ways to raise your children. Nathan and I talked a lot about ways we would raise our children and we even came up with a long list of boy/girl names we loved. We still talk about these things today. Don’t let fear hold you back from talking and planning about your future as a parent.

Don’t hesitate in going to the doctor. I was recommended in waiting 8 weeks before going to the doctor. Although that is completely normal, if you feel like you should go early, go! It’s okay to get an official test and blood work. You also might want to try a few doctors/midwives out. I wouldn’t rush to the doctor as soon as you find out but don’t wait 8 weeks if you don’t feel like you should. It is your pregnancy and your choice.

Don’t hesitate in being healthy and taking prenatal vitamins. I was also told I didn’t need to rush into taking a prenatal vitamin. If you are thinking about getting pregnant, go ahead and start taking prenatal vitamins. Find a raw, whole food vitamin and start taking them before or when you find out your exciting news. Eat organic, non-GMO, veggies, local meat, etc. Take care of your body and stay away from as many toxins as you can.

Don’t hold back on happiness or celebrating if you find out exciting news of a pregnancy. Stay in prayer and have faith in the future.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7.

Are you experiencing any hesitations right now during a pregnancy? Are you experiencing any fear or worry about your pregnancy or future pregnancies? Feel free to email me at momentswithmarylee@gmail.com or comment below. I want to chat with you! 🙂

If you missed Part 1 of my miscarriage story, you can find it here: My Miscarriage Part 1. Before I share Part 2, here is a great reminder for today:

After the appointment at my midwife, confirming we did have a miscarriage, we thought the physical pain would start to go away and we could just work on the emotional and mental pain. A week went by and I was still having mild cramping and light bleeding. Nathan couldn’t stay away from work the whole time, and I was feeling a little better, so he went back to work. Not wanting to be alone, I went to stay at my parents during the day. About a week after my first ER visit, I remember my dad picking me up this one morning because my cramping started to get worse and worse.

I laid down at my parents house and I couldn’t fight these cramps. I remember walking around helped the pain but about every couple minutes it would be terrible cramping. I assumed these were contraction type pains. I didn’t think I could make it all the way to my midwife so I decided to have my dad drive me to the local hospital. I was bent over in pain and begged to be sent right back to a room.

Thankfully, there was no wait. They wheeled me back and I could tell this was already a much better visit than the first one. Nathan arrived at the hospital and I knew he was worried. That second ER visit was the worst pain I have ever felt. They told me it was labor pains. A couple rounds of morphine didn’t even solve the pain, it mainly just calmed me down. After more tests and ultrasounds, they didn’t find anything different and said it was probably just the miscarriage.

Nathan and I were lost and confused. I got sent home a couple hours later and was told to just lay down and let it pass. I didn’t know what that meant but I was worried it would never end.

Later that night something passed that I knew had to be the fetus. Physically, I felt immediately better and had a huge sigh of relief. It was finally time to just focus on our relationship and emotional pain.

In the second hospital bed, I kept praying that the pain I had would just go away. I knew I worried Nathan and my parents. I kept saying how unfair it was to be going through such horrible pain and not able to take a baby home. I had a lot of support from Nathan and my parents that day.

As you can tell from my story, I didn’t have a D&C procedure. I am thankful for that because it gave my body a chance to heal on its own. It was a longer miscarriage and painful but I had the strength to overcome it because of Jesus and my family.

If you have had a miscarriage or currently enduring one, please share your story with me and we can chat. Just email me at marylee.hamblin@gmail.com. You are not alone. Jesus is holding you and going to get you through this. Remember he has a plan for you and it is not one to harm you.

Thank you for letting me share my story and continuing to read my blog! Please sign up for email updates and follow me on social media! =)

Today I have the privilege of introducing you to our friends Aaron and Izzy Becerra and share how they are demonstrating love for others. They came to visit last night from California. We don’t see them often but whenever we get to see each other, we pick up right where we left off before. They have such giving hearts and I am so inspired by the love they are sharing in China next month.

How we met Aaron and Izzy

My husband met Aaron at his job a few years ago. Aaron was engaged to Izzy at the time and we got to know them. We had late game nights, dinners, and an amusement park visit. We loved our friendship and missed them very much when they moved to California after their wedding. Whenever they come to Kentucky for visits we still get together and have those fun game nights, but now with their beautiful daughter, Rosy.

How Aaron and Izzy met

In 2011 Aaron and Izzy were on a mission trip in China and became great friends. When they were back in the United States they fell in love. He was from California and she was from Kentucky. Aaron moved to Kentucky until they got married, they started a home in LA as Mr. and Mrs. Becerra. Later on they had sweet Rosy.

Deciding to go Back to China

After having Rosy, they finally had the time to go back and visit their friends they made on their mission trip. While they are there they felt led to teach English at Childfirst Kindergarten in Chongqing, China.

Love as an Action

This week I have been reading the book Love Does, by Bob Goff. First of all, I highly recommend this book for everyone. I feel like this is incredible timing that I’ve been reading this book and their visit being last night. In Love Does, Bob shares hilarious and meaningful stories of his life that depict what love is. Love takes action. Love does not stop at feelings and thoughts. They are giving up the comfort of being in their home and near family to travel across the world to show love to others.

Jesus has been opening my eyes this week to find ways to demonstrate love. I want people to see Jesus in me. I fail at this everyday. I see Jesus in Aaron and Izzy.

I am attaching a link to their Go Fund Me page where you can read more about their story. If you feel God leading you to donate money to them, I know they would truly appreciate it and be blessed by it.

I Like Where You’re Going

As you go on this week think about where you are going. In the words of Bob Goff, figure out what fuels your joy, then do a lot of it. God uses ordinary people to share his love. If you start loving people more, I think others will see Jesus pouring out of you. Have a blessed week and be praying for the Becerras as they travel to China next month. I like where they’re going and how they are sharing love.

Remember to sign up for email updates so you don’t miss any new posts! 😉

Good Morning!! It’s been cold here in central KY! I have been able to finally enjoy my winter coats and scarves. 🙂

Today I will be sharing the story of my miscarriage. I decided to write it in 2 parts because it was long and difficult week. I hope you all have had a great week so far! I want to say thank you for reading and following me on social media! Please subscribe to emails so you never have to miss a post. 🙂

My miscarriage started on May 27th. I had known I was pregnant for two weeks, at that time I was 7 weeks along. I was hanging out with my parents that day and remember feeling cramps and I starting to have this light spotting. Feeling a little uneasy, I decided to go home to Nathan who was bringing dinner home. On that ride home I remember questioning the spotting, was that normal? As soon as I walked in the door I ran to the bathroom and noticed it was a little more than spotting. I called my mom and I remember hearing her comforting voice, yet I could tell she was concerned (she’s had a miscarriage).

I laid on the floor in tears as Nathan walked in the house. He sat our dinner down by the front door and we left for the ER. Neither of us knew what was happening or what to feel. We barely had to time to celebrate being pregnant. As we walked into the waiting room, we found the only two chairs left. We were told the wait was 4-5 hours. In the meantime I experienced the worst pains of my life and had a lot of bleeding.

My parents and Aunt Marlene came to the ER for support and I remember my mom telling me what was probably happening. My mom with a broken arm, was comforting me and getting me water. My dad drove to the nearest drug store for pain medicine and feminine products. What was wrong with this hospital? It was 4 or 5 hours later and we finally heard my name called.

More waiting, then tests, more waiting, then exams, more waiting. We finally got to have our first ultrasound. As they were rubbing my belly, I remember the doctor’s asking each other if they would be able to hear a heart beat at this point. Nathan and I looked at each other with concerned looks. Where were we? Anyways, after more rubbing, they claimed I was still pregnant.

With total confusion, we were sent home shortly after that ultrasound. I left the hospital in the worst pain I have ever had. I remember screaming in the car on the way home, kicking the front of the dashboard, making myself sick. How could I still be pregnant and in this much pain? At this point of the night we could not even get a prescription filled.

The next day I was scheduled to see my midwife. This was a different type of waiting room. It was full of happiness and pregnant women. And then there was me and Nathan. After blood work and more ultrasounds, it was a confirmed miscarriage.

From the start of the miscarriage, I knew what was happening but I was holding on to a little hope. It honestly didn’t even feel completely over after the confirmation. Technically I did have a miscarriage, but it wasn’t over.

Even through all of this I knew God was still by my side. Yes, I was frightened, worried, sad, etc. but I knew I wasn’t alone. We are never alone. If you are going through something like this, pray right now for comfort and healing. Jesus is by your side and will never let you go. Feel free to email me and I will listen to your story. I will also put you on my prayer list.